An Iceland Cruise Is Really About the Route.
Iceland cruises are not all the same. Some spend most of the trip working their way around Iceland. Some add Greenland. Others combine Iceland with Scotland, Ireland, Norway or the British Isles.
That's why I wouldn't start by asking which cruise line has the nicest ship. For this kind of trip, I'd start with where the ship actually goes, how long it stays in port and what you want to see once you get there.
If Iceland is the reason you're taking the cruise, the itinerary matters more than having the biggest or newest ship.
Waterfalls, cliffs, volcanic landscapes, fjords, whales, puffins, small towns and long summer days are what make this trip different. It is much more about getting out and exploring than sitting by a pool all week.
Does an Iceland Cruise Sound Like Your Kind of Trip?
Iceland can be an incredible cruise destination, but it isn't trying to be a Caribbean vacation.
It May Be a Great Fit If...
You like scenery, cooler summer weather, waterfalls, cliffs, volcanic landscapes, smaller ports, wildlife and days where getting off the ship is a big part of the vacation.
It May Not Be What You're Looking For If...
Your main goal is hot beach weather, pool days, nightlife or a simple warm-weather cruise where you spend most of the vacation relaxing onboard.
How Short Can an Iceland Cruise Be?
You don't automatically need two weeks. Some of the shorter Iceland-focused cruises can give you a very good first look at the country.
A Shorter Iceland-Focused Cruise
Typical length: about 7–8 nights
Often starts or ends: Reykjavík
Possible Iceland stops: Reykjavík, Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Seyðisfjörður, Grundarfjörður or Heimaey, depending on the sailing.
Who I'd look at this for: first-time Iceland visitors, travelers with limited vacation time and people who want Iceland without adding Greenland or a longer British Isles itinerary.
The tradeoff is that a shorter trip may mean less time in Reykjavík before or after the cruise, fewer Icelandic ports and no Greenland or British Isles portion. That's not necessarily bad. It just depends on what you want the trip to be.
Three Ways I Would Start Comparing Iceland Cruises
There are plenty of individual sailings, but most of the choices start to make more sense when you put them into these three general groups.
1. Iceland Circumnavigation
Start here if the main reason for the trip is seeing Iceland.
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Typical length: 7–10 nights
Good for: travelers who mainly want to see Iceland.
Possible ports: Reykjavík, Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Seyðisfjörður, Grundarfjörður, Heimaey and smaller Icelandic ports depending on the route.
What the trip can include: waterfalls, volcanic areas, fishing towns, whale-watching areas, cliffs, fjords, hot springs and dramatic coastline.
This is usually where I would start if someone tells me, “I want to see Iceland.” You get more of the country without using a large part of the vacation sailing somewhere else.
2. Iceland + Greenland
This is the bigger adventure.
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Typical length: 10–18 nights or longer
Good for: travelers who want a more remote trip and are comfortable using more vacation time to do it.
Possible stops: Reykjavík, Ísafjörður, Greenland fjords, Nuuk, Nanortalik, Qaqortoq and other Arctic ports depending on the itinerary.
What the trip can include: icebergs, fjords, Arctic communities, glaciers and remote coastline.
This is the kind of trip people may talk about for years. It can also mean more sea days, more money and a longer vacation, so I wouldn't automatically choose it just because Greenland sounds exciting.
3. Iceland + Scotland, Ireland or the British Isles
A good direction when you want Iceland but also want more variety in the vacation.
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Typical length: 10–14 nights
Good for: travelers who want Iceland along with history, castles, cities, pubs, coastal towns and European culture.
Possible stops: Reykjavík, Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Kirkwall, Invergordon, the Edinburgh area, Belfast, the Dublin area and other British Isles ports depending on the sailing.
What the trip can include: Icelandic scenery, the Scottish Highlands, historic cities, castles, coastal villages and cultural stops.
You give up some Iceland time compared with a true Iceland-focused route, but you get a much wider vacation in return.
Which Kind of Route Makes More Sense?
Mostly Iceland
Start here if waterfalls, scenery, Icelandic ports and seeing more of the island are what made you interested in the trip.
Iceland + Greenland
Look here if you want the bigger adventure and have the time and budget for a longer, more remote vacation.
Iceland + British Isles
Look here if you want Iceland but also like the idea of Scotland, Ireland, history, castles, cities and more variety.
Iceland Cruise Ports You'll See Come Up
Every sailing is different, but these are some of the names you'll probably run into while comparing itineraries.
Reykjavík
“RAYK-yah-veek”Iceland's capital and a common place to start or end the cruise. This is where many travelers add the Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, food tours, museums and an extra hotel night or two.
Akureyri
“AH-koo-rayr-ee”A major North Iceland stop and a good jumping-off point for whale watching, waterfalls, volcanic scenery and the Lake Mývatn area.
Ísafjörður
“EE-sa-fyur-thur”A Westfjords port surrounded by dramatic mountains. It has a smaller, more remote feel than Reykjavík and gives the itinerary another side of Iceland.
Seyðisfjörður
“SAY-this-fyur-thur”An East Iceland stop known for fjord scenery, waterfalls, colorful buildings and a quieter small-town atmosphere.
Heimaey
“HAY-mah-ay”Part of the Westman Islands. Volcano history, cliffs, birdlife and puffins can make this a very different stop from the larger Icelandic ports.
Things You May Want to Do Along the Way
This is one of the reasons I pay so much attention to the ports and the amount of time the ship actually spends in them.
- Golden Circle: one of the classic Iceland day trips from Reykjavík.
- Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon: both are popular, but timing them around the cruise schedule matters.
- Whale watching: especially worth looking at from North Iceland.
- Waterfalls: a major part of many Iceland shore days and one of the big reasons people choose this trip.
- Volcanic landscapes: lava fields, craters, geothermal areas and black-sand scenery.
- Food and walking tours: a good way to experience Reykjavík rather than treating it only as the place where you board the ship.
- Puffins and wildlife: a great possibility on the right itinerary, although the season and timing matter.
A Few Things I'd Be Careful With
Flying in the Same Day
I would strongly prefer arriving at least a day early for an international cruise. Flight delays, missed connections, weather and luggage problems aren't worth gambling with when the ship isn't going to wait for you.
Choosing Only by Price
Two cruises can look almost identical on a search screen and still have very different ports, port times, excursion possibilities and overall experiences.
Forgetting About Excursions
Iceland is the kind of destination where you'll probably want to get off the ship and see things. Excursions can become a meaningful part of the total trip cost.
Thinking Summer Means Warm
Iceland can still be cool, windy, rainy and unpredictable in summer. Layers and weather flexibility matter.
Cruise Lines Worth Comparing
For Iceland, I would compare the itinerary first and then look at which cruise line and ship make sense. The route is too important to choose the cruise line first and force the itinerary around it.
Celebrity
Worth comparing for a more premium mainstream feel, modern ships and itineraries that may combine Iceland with Ireland, Scotland or Greenland.
Princess
Worth looking at for Iceland, British Isles and longer Northern Europe itineraries.
Holland America
Often worth comparing for scenic, destination-heavy itineraries and Iceland or Greenland combinations.
Norwegian
Can make sense for travelers who prefer a more casual cruise style and want Iceland mixed with other Northern European ports.
Viking
Worth looking at for travelers who want a quieter, adult-focused and destination-heavy experience.
Oceania & Windstar
Worth comparing when smaller ships, a more premium experience, food or unusual itinerary options are important.
When Do Iceland Cruises Sail?
Most of the Iceland cruise season is concentrated around the warmer and brighter part of the year. The month can affect daylight, crowds, weather, wildlife and which sailings are available.
Cooler and earlier in the season, with fewer crowds and a different feel from the busiest summer months.
Very long daylight, green landscapes and the beginning of the main summer cruise season.
One of the busiest periods, with long days, strong cruise availability and generally milder summer conditions.
Still a strong summer month with plenty of cruise choices and a good balance for many travelers.
Later-season atmosphere and fewer summer crowds, but weather can become more unpredictable and sailing choices may narrow.
The Cruise Fare Isn't the Whole Iceland Trip
This is important when you're comparing two sailings. A cruise that looks less expensive at first may not actually be the less expensive vacation once everything is included.
Where I Would Start
If this is your first Iceland cruise, I would start by comparing a 7–10 night Iceland-focused itinerary with a 10–14 night Iceland plus Scotland, Ireland or British Isles itinerary.
That comparison usually tells us quite a bit. Do you keep looking at the trip that gives you more Iceland, or do you get more excited about having several countries and different kinds of stops in the same vacation?
If you have more vacation time and the budget works, then I would bring Iceland + Greenland into the conversation. It's a fantastic option for the right traveler, but I wouldn't automatically make the trip longer and more expensive unless Greenland is part of what excites you about going.
Thinking About an Iceland Cruise?
You don't need to know the cruise line or exact itinerary yet. Tell me who's going, when you're thinking about traveling and what part of an Iceland cruise caught your attention. I'll help you compare the routes, ships and other pieces of the trip.
Start Planning My Iceland Cruise →